Former India captain Virat Kohli has been ruled out of the upcoming three-match ODI series against Afghanistan, which was set to feature the superstar on June 4. The 37-year-old right-hander is fresh off a spectacular, Player of the Match-winning performance for RCB in the IPL 2026 final, where he smashed 75 runs off just 42 balls against GT in the IPL 2026 final.
Virat Kohli's replacement to be announced on June 6
Reportedly, Kohli sustained an injury during the IPL 2026 final, with subsequent scans reportedly revealing a distal semimembranosus tendon tear, forcing him out of India's first-ever bilateral ODI series against Afghanistan.
BCCI has not yet named a replacement for Kohli. Addressing the media during the pre-match press conference, Team India’s aCoach Ryan ten Doeschate acknowledged the massive void left by Kohli's absence, noting that an official medical and team statement regarding the batter's condition would be released by the board shortly.
As per a Times Now report, Kohli’s replacement will be officially unveiled on June 6. On that day, the BCCI’s senior men’s selection committee, chaired by Ajit Agarkar, is scheduled to convene in Mumbai. While their primary agenda is to name the upcoming Indian squads for the T20I tours of Ireland and England, as well as the roster for the Asian Games 2026, they will also finalize the ODI squad adjustment.
During this high-profile meeting, the selectors will thoroughly debate which player will step into the ODI squad to fill Kohli's formidable shoes for the remainder of the Afghanistan series. With a spot open in the top order, all eyes will be on the Indian cricket board to see which young talent or seasoned campaigner gets the nod to replace the iconic superstar.
Ruturaj Gaikwad in line to replace Kohli for Afghanistan ODIs
While the BCCI has yet to release an official statement regarding the exact nature of Virat Kohli’s injury and his subsequent withdrawal from the Afghanistan ODIs, speculation is already mounting over who will fill the void. Ruturaj Gaikwad has emerged as the frontrunners to take the veteran superstar's place in the national squad.
India’s ODI squad for Afghanistan series:
Shubman Gill (Captain), Rohit Sharma*, Shreyas Iyer (vice-captain), KL Rahul (wicket-keeper), Ishan Kishan (wicket-keeper), Hardik Pandya*, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, Prasidh Krishna, Prince Yadav, Gurnoor Brar, Harsh Dubey